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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Bits & Bites

My friend Lee at Roots in Alpharetta reports that a second metro Atlanta location of Tom & Chee isopening on North Point Parkway near Guitar Center. The first Atlanta area Tom & Chee opened in early April in Kennesaw on Ernest Barrett Parkway. When the Alpharetta location opens, the Cincinnati-based grilled cheese and tomato soup franchise will have a total of 15 locations. Tom & Chee specializes in assorted grilled cheese sandwiches, but is perhaps most famous for their "grilled cheese doughnut," yes, exactly what it sounds like. Friends Corey Ward and Trew Quackenbush started selling grilled cheese sandwiches from a tent beside an ice skating rink in December, 2009. Last year, the grilled cheese duo wooed Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban of ABC's Shark Tank into an investment deal that has allowed them to renovate their existing locations and expand their franchise offerings. (Corcoran and Cuban invested $600,000 as equal partners for a 30% stake in Tom & Chee.)

Also from RiA comes news that the long delayed Tower Burger plans to open in "2 or 3 weeks" at 1495 South Main Street in Alpharetta. The former Sonic restaurant was heavily remodeled to include a second story with deck seating and outdoor patio on the main level. The restaurant has been "in the works" for nearly two years, so let's all hope it's good!

Dantanna's Tavern is slated to open today in Sandy Springs. The new Dantanna's, the third in the chain, replaces Applebee's in Abernathy Square at the corner of Abernathy and Roswell Roads.

Torq Cycle is nearing completion of its new westside studio. Modeled after popular exercise bike facilities like Flywheel and Soul Cycle, Torq Cycle will offer similar classes and aims to capitalize on the hot exercise trend. Torq Cycle is located on the street level of 935M apartments on Marietta Street where Yum Bunz was previously located and Le Fat will soon open.

A second Barcelona Wine Bar will open in Atlanta mid next year. The new Barcelona Wine Bar will open at Westside Ironworks, which up until earlier this year operated as Ironworks International, a purveyor of crafted metalworks. Barcelona will occupy about 4000 square feet, and will likely be joined by at least one additional restaurant tenant. Nearby, the Meddin Company plans to redevelop the Sunlow Building into retail and restaurant space that will reportedly include a new restaurant from the owners of YEAH! Burger. Barcelona's first location opened in Inman Park in late 2011, and was joined by new concept Bartaco, on Marietta Street near Bocado last month. Additional bartaco locations are opening in north Buckhead on Roswell and at the 280 Elizabeth Street project in Inman Park. Barteca Restaurant Group would seem to like metro Atlanta and insiders say they may not yet be done expanding in the market. William Wren plans to open August 9th on North Highland Avenue in Virginia Highland. The shoes and accessories retailer is the latest concept from the owners of nearby 310 Rosemont. Last year the same group opened Winter Wren. William Wren will have merchandise for both men and women and replaces Rollick, another boutique that "moved to the beach."

Port Washington, Wisconsin-based Allen Edmonds plans to open a second Atlanta area location later this fall. Joining the existing retail shop at Park Place shopping center near Perimeter Mall will be a 2000 square foot boutique at Pearson's Corner in Buckhead. Local real estate firm Loudermilk Bell purchased the former Pearson's wine & liquor store in early 2013, and has spent the past year renovating and re-configuring the space at Early Street and West Paces Ferry Road. Onward Reserve is already open in the center and will soon be joined by CoCoCo, aka the Comfortable Couch Company.

Pinkberry opened its new location within Macy's at Lenox Square on Monday.

A third location of Sweet Hut Bakery is coming soon to Duluth. The new Sweet Hut replaces what was most recently El Caporal Mexican Restaurant. Sweet Hut occupies the endcap of the shopping center that is anchored by GreatWall Supermarket (previously a Target store.) The original Sweet Hut is located on Buford Highway in Chamblee and was joined by a second location at the Metropolis condo building on Peachtree in midtown earlier this year.

Metro Atlanta's newest Bojangles' is slated to open July 22nd in Tucker. The new Bojangles' is opening near the intersection of Northlake Parkway and Lawrenceville Highway, next to a new RaceTrac. Bojangles' fans are invited to visit the restaurant's drive-thru window on Saturday July 19th between 11am and 1pm to receive a free 22 oz. Legendary Iced Tea and a choice of one ham, steak or sausage biscuit.

Gander Mountain, a retailer of hunting and outdoors apparel, equipment and accessories will open a new store early next year in Newnan. The new 51,000 square foot Gander Mountain will be open near J.C. Penney off Newnan Crossing Bypass. Gander Mountain locations are concentrated in the midwest and eastern part of the United States. Gander Mountain operates existing Georgia locations in Albany, McDonough and Valdosta and is opening soon in Augusta.

Metrotainment Cafes closed its last remaining Garrison's Broiler & Tap in Vinings this past weekend. The bar and grill was once one of three Garrison's in metro Atlanta. A Garrison's at Perimeter Mall later became a Hudson Grille (another Metrotainment Cafes concept) before closing. The Pub will soon open its its place. The former Garrison's in Duluth / Johns Creek became a Twisted Taco. According to the Garrison's Vinings facebook page, "We will reopen in the area in a few weeks." (I tend to doubt this will actually happen, but stranger things have happened.)

New York-based Crumbs Bake Shop ceased operations this past Monday, a week after being delisted from the NASDAQ. The company, which went public in 2011 and reached a high of about $13, has been trading most recently in the 30 cent neighborhood, closing Monday at 15 cents. (Today the stock sits virtually worthless at 4 cents in OTC trading.) The company allegedly had plans in 2012 to open eight locations in Georgia, but none ever opened. Beverly Hills-based Sprinkles Cupcake opened at Lenox Square earlier this year while Washington D.C.-based Georgetown Cupcake plans to open at Buckhead Atlanta late this fall.

Butter & Cream, an artisan ice cream shop, is now open on Church Street in Decatur, across from The Yogurt Tap.